Geometric morphometric analyses of sexual dimorphism and allometry in two sympatric snakes: Natrix helvetica (Natricidae) and Vipera berus (Viperidae)

Sexual Dimorphism Using Geometric Morphometric Approach

Comparative morphology of the skin of Natrix tessellata (family: Colubridae) and Cerastes vipera (family: Viperidae).

We studied beneficial difference of the skin of two snakes. Two snakes were chosen from two different habitats and two families: Colubridae (Natrix tessellata) and Viperidae (Cerastes vipera). The investigations were performed by light and electron microscopy. Histologically, the skin of the studied species show pronounced modifications that correlated with functional demands. The scales in Nat...

Proteome and Peptidome of Vipera berus berus Venom.

Snake venom is a rich source of peptides and proteins with a wide range of actions. Many of the venom components are currently being tested for their usefulness in the treatment of many diseases ranging from neurological and cardiovascular to cancer. It is also important to constantly search for new proteins and peptides with properties not yet described. The venom of Vipera berus berus has hem...

Promiscuity in sand lizards (Lacerta agilis) and adder snakes (Vipera berus): causes and consequences.

We review postcopulatory phenomena in the Swedish sand lizard (Lacerta agilis) and adder (Vipera berus), and in particular, links between female promiscuity, determinants of paternity, and offspring viability. In both species, females mate multiply and exhibit a positive relationship between the number of partners and offspring viability. We conclude that this relationship is most likely the re...

Sexual dimorphism and allometry in primate ossa coxae.

Five measurements were taken on the ossa coxae of 454 adult primates representing Ceboidea, Cercopithecoidea and Hominoidea. Sex differences in these variables and their relationships to overall body size and sexual dimorphism were tested by means of Student's T-test and regression analysis. The study attempts to clarify the nature of primate pelvic sexual dimorphism, including allometric effec...